Oakland’s Crime Reduction Team East had a busy Monday, with police saying officers pulled multiple guns and suspected narcotics off the streets in two separate East Oakland contacts. One encounter near 23rd Avenue and East 22nd Street ended with officers recovering several firearms and drugs believed to be packaged for sale, while a second stop on School Street near Pleitner Avenue turned up a tossed gun that did not get far. Specialized units from CRT West and Ceasefire assisted in detaining the armed individuals, according to the department.
Two East Oakland Stops Yield Four Guns, Suspected Drugs
According to the Oakland Police Department, CRT East officers first spotted several people openly carrying firearms near 23rd Avenue and East 22nd Street. With backup from CRT West and Ceasefire units, officers moved in and ultimately recovered four firearms, including one described as an assault weapon, along with narcotics that officers believe were possessed for sale. In a separate contact on School Street near Pleitner Avenue, officers reported seeing a person with a firearm. When they approached, the individual ran and threw the weapon, which officers later retrieved. The department’s public post did not list any arrests or charges tied to the two incidents.
Part of a Broader Push to Get Guns Off Oakland Streets
Police say these latest recoveries mirror other targeted operations by OPD and its specialized units that focus on cutting down gun violence across the city. A previous operation documented in a City of Oakland news release detailed 27 firearms recovered in under five days as part of a Summer Safety Plan, highlighting the department’s ongoing emphasis on proactive enforcement and coordination between units, according to the City of Oakland.
OPD Says Community Partnership Still Central
In its recent post, the department said that OPD remains committed to partnering with the community to reduce gun violence and create safer neighborhoods in Oakland, according to the Oakland Police Department. Investigators said the contacts stemmed from routine but targeted patrols by specialized units and that the investigation into the incidents remains active.
